What Will You Have Done with Your Carcass

When it comes to death, either we or our family has to decide what to do with the body. When I look at countries burying people in layers or like this Jewish Church in the Czech Republic, Kutna Hora, I find myself shaking my head. Link http://www.wayfaring.info/2007/06/09/a-unique-work-of-high-and-late... The same stuff happens in cemeteries. They'll double sell plots now. We stockpile people like cord wood in the ground, or in churches, but what's the end game? Just keep stacking? Why?

Religiously speaking a Jew isn't to be cremated. It's against tradition. Christians are waiting for Jesus to return and since it's going to happen any day now, you should be buried so that he can raise you up. But for Atheists, do any of us want to be buried? I have chosen donating my body to science (gotta finish that paperwork) and the remains will be cremated, not that I care what happens. If you have chosen burial, what drives you to that decision? If not, why not?

For me, I just fantasize that I might be able to add to a statistic understanding or scientific experiment and give a few organs to those in need.

Replies to This Discussion

I want to be cremated and have my ashes buried in the soil where a tree is planted. this way I will be "one with the tree" so to speak. not in a reincarnation way, but in a symbolic way where my descendants/family can come to visit me, instead of a cement tomb stone.

I find it interesting that virtually every person on this thread said they wanted to donate whatever they could. Can you imagine if this was just as common amongst theists? We wouldn't have the horrific organ donor shortages as we do now.

Anyway, at death I would also like to donate whatever organs and body parts are still usable. And while donating the rest to science for med school studies is a good thing, I learned after my mother died that it also means being 'preserved' with all of the chemicals, similar to what is done in preparation for burial.

Likewise, cremation is harder on the environment than one would think.

I am encouraged by the rising popularity of "green" burials, some version of natural decomp, and have expressed a preference for this if available.

More than anything, though, I've told my family I do not want them spending a bunch of money disposing of my remains. Whatever is the least expensive method is fine by me.

Ever seen weekend at Bernie's?! I'm kidding.8) If I outlive my immediate family, I want to be donated to science, specifically plastinated; honestly for no other reason than "It is very cool" and my jaw slammed to the floor when I first saw it. If not, then I suppose my family can do what allows them to feel the most closure. Hopefully it's to have me plastinated!